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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but fans can expect additional details as production continues.